SLO County BLM protester appeal headed back to the appellate court
April 8, 2021
By KAREN VELIE
In the latest legal round regarding a group of Black Lives Matter protesters who blocked Highway 101 in San Luis Obispo last summer, the appellate court reversed their earlier decision not to hear an appeal of Judge Matthew Guerrero’s recusal of county prosecutors.
In early January, the attorney general filed two appeals regarding Guerrero’s finding the SLO County District Attorney’s Office had a conflict of interest, one in the felony case against Robert Lastra the protester who allegedly smashed a car window onto a 4-year-old boy and one in the misdemeanor filings against the remaining six defendants. Generally, the 2nd District Court of Appeal hears felony appeals, while a panel of three SLO County Superior Court judges rule on misdemeanor appeals.
Appellate court asked to reconsider Judge Guerrero s ruling calcoastnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from calcoastnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
March 13, 2021
The 2nd District Court of Appeal determined this week that the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Appellate Division will hear the Attorney General and District Attorney’s appeals of Judge Matthew Guerrero’s recusal of all county prosecutors in the cases of a group of Black Lives Matter protestors who detained people on Highway 101 last July.
In early January, state and local prosecutors filed two appeals each, one in the felony case against Robert Lastra the protester who allegedly smashed a car window onto a 4-year-old boy and one in the misdemeanor filings against the remaining six defendants. Generally, the 2nd District Court of Appeal hears felony appeals while a panel of three SLO County Superior Court judges rules on misdemeanor appeals.
Attorneys for BLM protesters take another swipe at SLO County prosecutors
March 1, 2021
By KAREN VELIE
Attorneys for two San Luis Obispo Black Lives Matter protesters are asking the court to hold prosecutors in contempt of court for allegedly withholding records they were court-ordered to provide.
Attorneys Patrick Fisher and Curtis Briggs, who represent protesters Tianna Arata and Robert Lastra, filed a motion last month asking the court to incarcerate SLO Deputy District Attorney Delaney Henretty and California Deputy Attorney General William Frank for not providing all requested documentation. Fisher and Briggs assert there has to be more correspondence between law enforcement and prosecutors than has been disclosed.
On Jan. 19, Gala Pride and Diversity Center was set to have its routine board meeting with an agenda item that included a question-and-answer segment with SLO County District Attorney Dan Dow intended to openly address their concerns regarding his appearance on certain radio shows and his comments on the topic of religion. click to enlarge File Photo By Karen Garcia
DISCUSSIONS The Gala Pride and Diversity Center is slated to have a private meeting with SLO County District Attorney Dan Dow in February to how his religious views affect his actions as the district attorney. However, an unusually large number of people planned to attend the meeting, which prompted Dow to decline Gala s invitation and offer the board a private meeting where they could address their concerns. Gala released a statement on